Rice IPM Project

 Title:           Community-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Rice Insect Pests.

 Duration:                  01 December 2006 – 30 November 2008

 Partners:                  UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme 

Geographic area:     Golarchi, District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan 

Beneficiaries:           Farmers/Rice growers     

Objectives:        

§         Gradual and sustainable reduction in the use of POPs-containing chemical pesticides in the paddy based agro-ecological system. 

§         Capacity building and awareness raising of the farming communities in Integrated Pest Management of rice pests.  

Achievements:  

§         IPM Resource Center and biological laboratory have been established in the project area for carrying out field based operations and mass rearing of natural enemies.

§         Baseline survey of the target area has been conducted to determine current situation and collect information on various rice insect pests and diseases in the target area.

§         Eight Farmer Field Schools have been established in the target communities, where the on-job training of farmers has been initiated.

§         Seminars are being organized and the material in local language has been produced and published for the information and education of farmer communities on the rice pest management.

§         Strong linkages and working partnerships have been developed with Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, National IPM Program Pakistan, Local Agriculture Department, Agriculture Research Sindh and various Sugar mills having bio labs.

§         Mass rearing of insects at the laboratory has been started. These insects will be released in the selected blocks of rice crop and the results will be assessed for future course of action.  

Anticipated output of project: 

1.      Sustainable and timely management of prevalent rice pest problems such as stem borers, leaf hoppers, leaf rollers and defoliators in the target farms.

2.       Gradual reduction in the number of insecticide sprays in the target area.

3.       Insecticide resistance will gradually decrease among the pests

4.  IPM Training Modules to guide the farming communities would be available for multiplication of the conservation approach.

5.   Community will be mobilized and their capacity will be built in Rice IPM approach keeping in view the sustainable land management and land degradation mitigation practices.

Future Plans:  

DEVCON has plans to enhance the scope of this research. If this research yields positive results, mass rearing of insects will be started for supplying to farmers at the larger scale.